WGBH News: ‘What Alan Dershowitz Said About Impeachment During Watergate’

WGBH News_ 'What Alan Dershowitz Said About Impeachment During Watergate'Source:WGBH News– criminal defense attorney Alan Dershowitz in 1973.

Source:The New Democrat

“On Nov. 1, 1973, Alan Dershowitz appeared with two other legal scholars on the WGBH News program “The Reporters.” The one-hour show focused on the theme “Treason, Bribery Or Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors,” and aired as the U.S. House was considering impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon.”

From WGBH News

On this panel, on this Boston public TV show called The Reporters, they’re basically discussing when a President of the United States should be impeached and for what for. Should there have to be evidence that the President (in that case Richard Nixon) committed a felony or multiple felonies, while in office. Or should there be a lower standard for when and why a President should be impeached, like failing to adequately supervise his own appointments and the people that he’s supposed to supervise while they’re in office.

As far as Alan Dershowitz in general: I don’t think the Alan Dershowitz in 1973, even recognizes the Alan Dershowitz of 20 years later, 30 years later, 40 years later, or even today. Which is probably a good thing that he never became a politician. He defended O.J. Simpson when Simpson was on trial for a double murder in 1995. And he defended Donald J. Trump when former President Trump was on trial in the Senate, for being impeached for the second time, for his role in the 2021 insurrection in Washington.

I believe the only thing that’s consistent about Alan Dershowitz, is that he’s a criminal defense lawyer. And when you are a criminal defense lawyer, it’s not always facts and evidence that matter. Which is something else that he has in common with Donald Trump and the broader MAGA movement. What really matters when you are a criminal defense lawyer, is what’s the best thing that you can do for your client at the time, regardless of the facts and evidence that’s against you and your client.

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Jim Acosta: Hear What George Conway Thinks About Mark Meadows’ Defense Argument in Georgia Case

Hear what Conway thinks about Meadows' defense argument in Georgia caseSource:CNN– left to right: (for anyone whose just waking from a coma) former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Conservative Washington political lawyer George Conway.

Source:The New Democrat

“Conservative lawyer George Conway discusses the Fulton County criminal trial against former President Donald Trump, his former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and 17 other co-defendants.”

From CNN

Of course I’m not a lawyer (if you are just reading my blogging for the very first time) but here’s my argument for why Mark Meadows case shouldn’t be in the Federal court system and why it should say in Fulton County, Georgia.

The Meadows legal team is going to have to answer the question where is it in the interest of the United States and under Mark Meadows job description, for the White House Chief of Staff, to try to convince the Secretary of State of Georgia, to throw out enough legal votes, for then President Donald Trump to win that election in 2020. Which is what Meadows was trying to do on behalf of then candidate Trump in 2020, so the President could overturn the 2020 election and be declared the winner and be able to stay in office.

The Meadows legal team is not going to be able to do that because Meadows was clearly acting as a Trump campaign official, not as Federal Government official. And so was the President in November or December of 2020, when he was trying to do the exact same thing, when he was talking to the Georgia Secretary of State as well.

George Conway already explained in this video (that’s linked on this post) about the Hatch Act. If Meadows is making a free speech argument by saying that he was advocating for the President of the United States in Georgia, when he was trying to convince the Secretary of State to overturn the election there and declare President Trump the winner, he would be in violation of the Hatch Act, which is a Federal felony.

Under Federal law, Federal officials, who are not elected officials, meaning they don’t serve in Congress or are not President or Vice President, are barred from weighing in on and contributing to political campaigns and elections. Legally, they’re supposed to be above politics. So which felony does Mr. Meadows want to plead guilty to: the Federal Hatch Act, or the Georgia RICO ACT?

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TED: Barbara F. Walter: Is The US Headed Towards Another Civil War?

Is the US Headed Towards Another Civil War_ _ Barbara F_ Walter _ TEDSource:TED– democracy expert Barbara F. Walter speaking.

Source:The New Democrat

“Based on her work for a CIA task force aimed at predicting civil wars, political scientist Barbara F. Walter examines the rise in extremism and threats to democracies around the globe — and paints an unsettling picture of the increasing likelihood of a second civil war in the United States.”

From TED

Is the United States headed to a civil war? Interesting question, but there is no easy answer to that. Are we going to have a civil war even within the next 10 years or so? I would still say of course not and I’ll explain that later.

I’ll just explain why I don’t think America is actually in danger or having a civil war in the near future.

I think you should look at the possible factions in America that could start that war, if they were actually serious about that.

You could look at the so-called Far-Left in America (Socialists and Communists) people who are always claiming that America is racist, sexist, homophobic, materialistic, overprivileged, etc. They always are the first to say what a hellhole (or use stronger language than that) America is and are saying how much America sucks and that we should be like Europe, not just ethnically and racially (as we are now) but politically as well. And are the first people to say that they will leave America, if so and so is elected, but then actually never leave the country.

I think the main problem with assuming that the Far-Left would start a civil war against the U.S. Government, is that they don’t believe their own bullshit. (To be frank) I’m sure there are some real Socialists and Communists in America who at the very least, tend to believe what they say.

But far-leftists in America by in-large are just political hipsters who think it’s cool to put down America down from a left-wing perspective. But as they’re doing that, they’re drinking their capitalist coffee house coffee, capitalist alcohol, looking at their capitalist smartphone and laptop, hanging out in the most yuppie and overprivileged parts of America, with the most yuppie and overprivileged Americans that you could dream of, enjoying American liberal democracy and capitalism as much as everyone else. So don’t expect the Far-Left to start an American civil war.

People, especially in the so-called mainstream media, always look at the Far-Right, people who are called Christian Nationalists. But the fact is there’s nothing very religious, or even Christian about thee folks by-en-large, at least not in the classical and traditional sense. Just saying Jesus Christ is your lord and savior, doesn’t make you Christian or religious. You actually have to believe in and practice the values of Jesus and Christianity, to be a real Christian.

The other thing with the Far-Right (and there are exceptions to every rule) is that they tend to be the biggest loser of the losers in this country. People who are not very educated, tend to have at least done some time in prison and are at least somewhat familiar with the criminal and justice system, who in a lot of cases were kicked out of mainstream society because mental issues, or for being prone to violence and end up in some militia/cult, because these are the only groups that would accept them and welcome them in their community.

The folks on the Far-Right, simply don’t have the resources, including money, but training, education, and experience, to take on the most powerful uncle in the world, meaning Uncle Sam. Every time they do, they end up doing long stretches in prison. Just look at 2021 insurrection, or Tim McVeigh from 25 years earlier, and there are a lot more examples like that.

Every free society has fringes in it that would like to see their country be a lot free and perhaps even take over the government, if they could do that. But one of the things that makes America exceptional, is we love freedom so much and have created government that’s simply in the business to defend our freedom, as well as rule of law, and limited government, and our other great liberal democratic values, that most American cherish, but perhaps take for granted too much.

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CNN: ‘Michael Cohen: This is The Mistake Donald Trump is Making in His Georgia Case’

Michael Cohen_ This is the mistake Trump is making in his Georgia caseSource:CNN– former Donald Trump Manhattan attorney Michael Cohen, talking to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins.

Source:The New Democrat

“CNN’s Kaitlan Collins speaks with former President Donald Trump’s one-time attorney and fixer Michael Cohen about Trump’s legal troubles.”

From CNN

If I was under the legal pressure that Donald Trump was:

multiple jurisdictions

multiple felonies

I also happened to be 77 years old, with the last place that I would ever want to spend my golden years, would be in a state or federal prison (or perhaps a state or federal hospital, where Donald Trump could finally get a head examination)

I was obviously guilty, based on the evidence that was against me, the fact I don’t seem to have any credible defense, (free speech is not unlimited and Donald Trump is not above the law)

the last thing I would do, would be to personally incentivize people who are around me, like my co-conspirators, to talk to law enforcement and prosecutors about me, especially what they know about me and my role in this conspiracy against me. But that’s me.

Donald Trump’s co-conspirators are not rich. At least based on the legal bills that they’re now pilling up and the fact that they work for someone who doesn’t pay them meaning Donald Trump.

The Donald’s co-conspirators may not have any choice but to become rats against The Donald, because they run out of money, are not just looking at being convicted, but multiple convictions against them, perhaps 10-20 years in a state or federal prison, perhaps both prisons.

If Donald Trump is the billionaire that he says he is and is not buried in debt, he can afford to cover the legals fees of his co-conspirators out of his own pocket, or raise the money from his cult followers.

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Associated Press: ‘SYND 20 8 74 FORD NOMINATES VICE PRESIDENT’

Associated Press_ 'SYND 20 8 74 FORD NOMINATES VICE PRESIDENT'Source:Associated Press– President Gerald R. Ford (Republican, Michigan) nominating Governor Nelson Rockefeller (Republican, New York) to be Vice President of the United States, in 1974.

Source:The New Democrat

“20 Aug 1974) United States President Gerald Ford nominates Nelson Rockefeller as his Vice President.”

From the Associated Press

After President Gerald Ford lost the 1976 election for President to Jimmy Carter, he later said that he regretted not keeping Vice President Rockefeller on his ticket with him. But President Ford thought he needed a more populist, more of an outsider to the Republican Leadership in Washington and someone who had better relations with the populist base of the Republican Party. which is why he replaced Rockefeller, with Senator Bob Dole. Senator Dole just happened to be Chairman of the Republican National Committee in the early 1970s, but that’s a different story.

I think Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller, represented the two dominant and competing factions of the Republican Party, before the populist Christian-Right base took over the party in the early 1990s. Ford was a Conservative Republican from Michigan. Rockefeller was a Progressive Republican from New York. So one of the reasons, to go along with Ford having a lot of respect for Rockefeller, that Ford nominated him for Vice President, was perhaps to unite the Republican Party behind him, when he ran for President in his own right in 1976.

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The Logical Cowboy: ‘THE UNAPPRECIATED DANNY WHITE’

THE UNAPPRECIATED DANNY WHITESource:The Logical Cowboy– Dallas Cowboys starting QB Danny White (1980-88)

Source:The New Democrat

This is a follow up post, from a 2020 post about Danny White, on The New Democrat .

“Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.”

From The Logical Cowboy

This is follow up piece that I wrote about the decline for Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys, from last week on The New Democrat .

Just to start on a personal not first: when I think of Danny White’s Dallas Cowboys, I think of him in Tom Landry’s shotgun formation, throwing post passes down to the field to either WR Tony Hill or TE Doug Cosbie, against the excellent pass rush that the Redskins had with Dexter Manley, Dave Butz, and Charles Mann, right in Danny White’s face, if White doesn’t get rid of the ball very quickly. And despite being under that pressure, still able to not just get the ball off, but make a perfect throw down the field, to either Tony Hill or Doug Cosbie, for either a big gain or TD pass against the Redskins.

I think Danny White when he had time to throw the ball, was one of the most accurate and best QB’s in the entire NFL. He didn’t have a cannon like Gary Hogeboom, but he had a strong arm. He was 6’2, 200 pounds or so, he was very mobile, made plays on the run or scramble. I think he had the same physical skills as the legend that he replaced, which was Roger Staubach, who I still consider to be the best QB in Cowboys history. (Sorry, to any Troy Aikman fans who may read this)

But the problems that were around Danny White, even though they weren’t problems that he created, he still had to try to deal with them and make the best of them.

Danny White was replacing the best all around QB of the 1970s in Roger Staubach.

White’s Cowboys were in decline, at least in the sense that they were no longer dominating the NFL.

The rule changes of the 1970s had weaken their defense, especially their secondary.

The Cowboys didn’t have the same depth in the 1980s, that they had in the 1970s.

The Cowboys starters were still some of the best players in the NFL, but their backups weren’t ready to start and when they suffered key injuries, they became an ordinary NFL team.

The rest of the NFL, at least in the NFC had not just caught up with the Cowboys, but became better, like the Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears.

And perhaps the worst problem of all for Danny White, he played for a head coach who didn’t appreciate him, who blamed him personally for the 3 NFC Championship losses in the early 1980s. And as a result tried to replace White with an inferior QB in Gary Hogeboom, before he realized that he made a big mistake and put White back in as the starting QB.

Danny White was a very good, Pro Bowl caliber NFL QB, who just happened to play for the Dallas Cowboys, when the Cowboys were transitioning to one of the top 2-3 franchises in the entire NFL, to becoming am ordinary playoff team, where making winning your division or just making the playoffs, was a good year. And he gets way too much blame for the decline of Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys.

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SportsChannel: NBA 1985- Portland Blazers @ Boston Celtics: Larry Bird Highlights

Larry Bird - 48 pts vs_ Blazers (Famous Buzzerbeater)Source:SportsChannel– Boston or New England.

Source:The New Democrat

“Larry Bird – 48 pts vs. Blazers (Famous Buzzerbeater) From 1985. Bird also hit another buzzerbeater vs. Pistons the next night.”

From FISH

This was one of several, great, Blazers-Celtics games that they played against each other in the mid and late 1980s. Not sure a lot of people who aren’t NBA history junkies (such as myself) are aware of this, but those Blazers teams in the 1980s, were really good, especially on offense. They had so many people who could score a lot of points and who played very well together.

The Blazers back then weren’t just Kiki Vandeweigh, Clyde Drexler, Sam Bowie when he was healthy. But Calvin Natt, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Steve Johnson, Mychal Thompson, before he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987. And they had several great games against the Celtics in 1985, 86, 87, and 88. Lost all of them, but they were really good team back then, even before Rick Adelman became their head coach. But were a few steps behind the Celtics, Lakers, 76ers with Moses and Dr. J. and the other great NBA clubs from that era.

As far as Larry Bird’s buzzer beater: think about Jerry West and Rick Barry, when you are thinking about how good and talented Larry Bird was. But add about 6 inches and 50-60 pounds of muscle and you get Larry Bird. He was a man who could defend and rebound like a power forward, or perhaps even center, but could shoot, pass, and handle the ball like a great point guard.

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CNN: ‘Rudy Giuliani Makes Desperate Appeal To Donald Trump To Pay Legal Bills’

Rudy Giuliani makes desperate appeal to Trump to pay legal billsSource:CNN– former “America’s Mayor” and now street beggar Rudolph Giuliani.

Source:The New Democrat

“With his attorney in tow, Rudy Giuliani traveled to Mar-a-Lago in recent months on a mission to make a personal and desperate appeal to former President Donald Trump to pay his legal bills. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins is joined by former Nixon White House Counsel John Dean to discuss.”

From CNN

Again, I’m not a a lawyer, but it seems to me that Rudy Giuliani (unless he’s already done this ) could sue Donald Trump for not paying him the money that Trump owes him for the work that Rudy has done for The Donald in the last 6-8 years.Which is what Michael Cohen did successfully against President Trump, when he got out of prison a few years ago.

I almost want to feel sorry for Rudolph Giuliani, because of the public service that he gave America the previous 20 plus years, before leaving the New York Mayor’s office in 2001. But I simply can not. When you make your own meals and there’s no one left to eat your food, you got to eat them yourself. You are responsible for your own actions for good and bad.

Rudy Giuliani is a lifelong New Yorker, someone who built his professional career in Manhattan. No one knows Donald J. Trump better than Rudolph Giuliani, other than perhaps Michael Cohen. Rudy knew exactly who he was going to work for and be doing business with, when The Donald hired him to assist his presidential campaign back in 2015 and they went into business together.

And like with what former Attorney General William Barr told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins last week, you need to have legal protection and insurance when you go into business with Donald Trump, because you are going to be involved in, witnessing, and even doing illegal activities, when you work for that man.

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NBC Sports: NFL 1985 Week 14- Los Angeles Raiders @ Denver Broncos: Highlights

The New Democrat_ NBC Sports_ NFL 1985 Week 14- Los Angeles Raiders @ Denver BroncosSource:NBC Sports with this Raider-Bronco matchup.

Source:The New Democrat

“Raiders (9-4) and Broncos (9-4) in another AFC West battle for first place after a close Silver and Black win 2 weeks earlier in Los Angeles.”

From John Mongani

The 1985 Denver Broncos were 11-5, but missed the AFC Playoffs. Back then, 5-14 teams in each conference made the NFL Playoffs, unlike 6 that started in 1990. So you could argue that the 1985 Broncos are one of the best NFL teams ever, at least in the Super Bowl era, that didn’t even make the playoffs.

The 1985 Los Angeles Raiders, we’re looking to get back to the Super Bowl. The 1983 Raiders are one of the best NFL teams ever (at least as far as I’m concern) but 1984 was very disappointing because they just got back to the AFC Wildcard that season and lost that game.

So this is a great matchup of two very good teams on both sides of the ball, that have a lot of very good players at every position, who simply hate and yet respected each other. Which is what made these Raider-Bronco games so good in the 1970s and 80s.

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The Source With Kaitlan Collins: Maggie Haberman On The Irony of Rudy Giuliani’s Indictment For Racketeering

Haberman on the irony of Giuliani’s indictment for racketeeringSource:CNN– New York Times political reporter Maggie Haberman.

Source:The New Democrat

“CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman joins CNN’s Kaitlan Collins to discuss Rudy Giuliani’s Georgia indictment and reveals how Donald Trump is reacting to it.”

From CNN

PBS made a documentary about Richard Nixon in 1990 and they talked to Richard Nixon’s White House counsel John Dean and they were talking about Watergate. One of the things that Dean told PBS about working at The White House during Watergate that even though he was a lawyer, he wasn’t a criminal lawyer. And that he didn’t know that he needed to be a criminal lawyer in order to work for President Richard Nixon.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins interviewed President Donald Trump’s Attorney General William Barr last week and he said that one of the things that you need to have when you work for Donald Trump, is a legal insurance policy. That you better have a good lawyer working for you before you work for President Trump.

What Attorney General Barr was basically saying here, is that when you work for someone like Donald Trump, you are going to be involved in things and doing things that at the very least, could make a witness against someone else, like your boss, or someone else who works for your boss, in a criminal case, or a criminal defendant yourself. Of the 18 other criminal defendants in the the Fulton County case, 1/3 of those folks, are either Donald Trump’s lawyers or people who served Donald Trump as his lawyer in the past.

As far as Rudy Giuliani: who is this man? What the hell have they done with Rudy Giuliani? And where is he? It’s like he’s been kidnapped and was replaced by some clone or someone impersonating the man, but doing it with a completely different character and personality. Pre-Donald Trump, he was a very successful and wealthy Manhattan, New York lawyer. Now, he’s looking to sell his New York apartment, just to pay his current legal bills.

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